Shloka 5.25.5

सीताविलापः (Sita’s Lament amid Rākṣasī Threats)

Devanagari script

वेपते स्माधिकं सीता विशन्ती वाङ्गमात्मनः।वने यूथपरिभ्रष्टा मृगी कोकैरिवार्दिता।।5.25.5।।

Transliteration

dhig astu khalu mānuṣyaṃ dhig astu paravaśyatām | na śakyaṃ yat parityaktum ātma-chandena jīvitam || 5.25.20 ||

Translation

Fie upon human life indeed; fie upon bondage to another’s power. For one cannot cast off life according to one’s own will.

Context

'Like a doe that strayed from the herd in the forest and tormented by wolves around, Sita had withdrawn into herself all her limbs through fear, she was trembling excessively.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma values autonomy aligned with righteousness; the verse condemns paravaśyatā (subjugation) as a moral and existential misery, underscoring the duty to resist injustice and protect freedom.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā, under strict guard, laments that even choosing death is not within her control.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Clear moral discernment—she identifies dependence and coercion as inherently degrading, even while enduring them.